Chapter 2 – Part 3

Harry Palmer looked up at the mansion he hadn’t visited in a long time. It befitted the estate of the Marchioness of Charbert, the Master of Donau Territory. It would have been better if the family head had better judgment.

They said she had become a wastrel. Harry watched the servants bustling about the mansion. They were all scrubbing and changing sheets, all on Olivia’s orders.

“She ordered a thorough cleaning, saying the mansion was in a terrible state. Is there any… problem, Mr. Palmer?”

A servant asked, watching Harry nervously. Given that everything in the Charbert mansion was carried out under his orders, it was natural for the servant to find it odd that Harry didn’t know.

Harry walked to the study. Though it was the master’s room, it was effectively his.

The study was in disarray. Papers were strewn everywhere. It was undoubtedly Olivia’s doing. Harry clicked his tongue. With a wastrel running amok, he needed to find a way to control her.

“The Marchioness went to see the emperor with Duke Marsden.”

Marsden. The man who was always a thorn in his side. Harry took out a cigarette and lit it. It was always him.

Harry had believed Olivia was dead. People had speculated she was pretending to be dead to get Gael Abyss’ attention or that she had orchestrated the situation because she couldn’t forget her first love, Marsden. But Harry hadn’t listened to any of that. To him, she was dead.

“It would have been better if she really was dead.”

Harry inhaled deeply and exhaled toward the ceiling. Before he could confront Olivia upon returning to the mansion, she had left for the imperial palace with Marsden. She would return soon, but the problem was that she hadn’t gone to the palace just for a visit.

Harry took another deep breath. Now that Olivia was alive, she needed to be maneuvered back under his control.

Knock, knock.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. It must be the guest he had invited. Harry tapped his cigarette against the ashtray and answered.

“Come in.”

With Harry’s answer, the door swung open, revealing a familiar silver-haired man.

“You’re finally here, Mr. Palmer.”

Gael chided him as he entered. His lack of greetings and rude demeanor didn’t bother Harry.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting? Every day was agonizing. I had no one to discuss Olivia with.”

“Everyone says Olivia has lost her mind. What do you think, Count?”

Harry spoke of Olivia’s name freely, but Gael didn’t care. That detail was unimportant to him.

“I could almost believe she’s an imposter wearing a human disguise. This isn’t the Olivia I knew.”

Gael’s face twisted in anguish.

“She’s definitely either pretending or has gone mad. Otherwise, she would never treat me this way.”

“What if Olivia has become enlightened and changed? What if she now has the intelligence to reckon with what you and I have done to her?”

Gael’s sharp eyes questioned the meaning behind Harry’s words. Harry calmly savored his cigarette.

“The Marchioness must know, at least somewhat, that you and I colluded to place people in her retinue. She just lacked the cunning to control or challenge it.”

Harry, who had been sitting lightly on the desk, stood up.

“She must have been aware of her situation, which is why she didn’t object when Marsden executed some of her vassals. At times, I can’t tell if she’s brilliant or foolish.”

Harry recalled the moment when Marsden personally killed some of the Charbert vassals and servants. Olivia had despaired, but Marsden didn’t stop.

A foolish woman. Even knowing they weren’t truly her people, she had begged Marsden not to kill them, only to be helplessly swayed by him.

Marsden never told Olivia why he killed them. His aim wasn’t to maintain a harmonious relationship with Olivia but to send a warning to Harry.

“I recommended people to you for Olivia’s sake, to ensure she wouldn’t come to any harm!”

“Regardless of your intentions, you did conspire with me, Count. That’s why we’re here together now.”

“So, what are you going to do? Are you just going to let Olivia be manipulated by Marsden?”

Gael’s shoulders heaved with agitation.

“This is clearly Marsden’s doing. He’s brainwashed her. Otherwise, Olivia wouldn’t treat me like this.”

It was like talking to a parrot. Harry felt a wave of revulsion but didn’t show it.

“I recently spoke with Countess Abyss’s sister, Lottie Bartram. She suggested a good solution.”

“Countess Abyss?”

Gael’s voice turned icy. Harry exhaled a puff of smoke.

“You’re engaged, so you’ll be married soon enough. She’ll essentially be the countess.”

“She’s not my wife yet,” Gael denied, trying to suppress his internal turmoil.

“Just because we’re engaged doesn’t mean we’ll definitely marry.”

“Even though she’s carrying your child?”

Gael flinched. Harry found this duplicitous man amusing.

“I’ll handle that myself.”

“You’re not planning to keep the fiancée as a mistress and put Olivia in the countess’s place, are you? She is our master, after all.”

“What nonsense, considering you don’t even see her as a proper master.”

“Ha ha ha.”

Harry laughed heartily. He had indeed planned to use Olivia until she was of age and then dispose of her.

“We’ll discuss that later. Lady Bartram mentioned a suitable place in Viscount Pelle’s territory. I plan to send Olivia there for ‘treatment.'”

“Treatment?”

The anger faded from Gael’s eyes, replaced by curiosity. Harry smiled at this reaction.

“Olivia was quite unruly as a child, and my father used to punish her severely. When nothing else worked, he tried other methods.”

In retrospect, the methods used to interrogate people had been applied to a child, but Harry didn’t care. His role was merely to be Olivia’s ‘friend.’

“Whatever Olivia is planning, we’ll soon find out. I’ve sent people to the imperial palace. Once Olivia returns, I’ll talk to her. Then, I’ll find an excuse to send her there, and the people there will take care of the rest. Then, Count, you…”

Harry took a deep drag of his cigarette.

“You can comfort and soothe the ‘restored’ Olivia. She’ll return to her obedient self.”

“Understood. I’ll handle Marsden from my end.”

“Are you afraid, Count? Surely you don’t feel guilty now?”

Harry’s soft whisper cut through Gael’s turmoil. Like a serpent, Harry’s words made Gael pause in thought.

“Of course not.”

Gael broke the silence quickly, a faint smile forming on his lips.

“I’ll do anything to reclaim Olivia, even if it means ruining her.”

‘I cannot afford to lose her.’

Gael added softly.

***

Olivia lay sprawled out on the bed. The soft yet unfamiliar feel of the mattress oddly sharpened her mind. After all, this was the guest room arranged for her at the royal palace.

Even though her primary purpose was to reach a single audience, she couldn’t just leave immediately afterward. The journey was long, and it was a matter of royal etiquette.

Olivia recalled the recent events, particularly the insane things Marsden had said.

“Then lock me up in your prison.”

At that moment, Olivia had almost slapped some sense into Marsden’s head. Instead, she had hurriedly turned away, suggesting they talk later. That had been an hour ago.

There were still three hours until the banquet. Despite having plenty of time, she felt unusually drained. It was likely due to Marsden’s nonsensical words.

Yet sitting idly only made her think more about Marsden, driving her nearly insane. She was considering visiting the royal library when she heard a knock on the door.

‘Could it be Marsden?’

Olivia glanced at the mirror to check her appearance before opening the door.

“Marchioness, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Knight Sochell. The commander has requested an audience. Do you have a moment?”

But instead of Marsden, a knight was there, informing her that some dandy in the knights’ order wanted to see her.